Bengaluru, Oct 15 (IANS): A war of words ensued among all the three rival parties over the Bengaluru police lodging a case for violation of the Model Code of Conduct against the Congress' Rajarajeshwari Nagar candidate, H. Kusuma on Thursday.
Taking strong exception to the police registering the case against Kusuma, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D. K. Shivakumar said that the ruling BJP was indulging in "low level politics" due to the fear of losing the elections.
While rebutting these allegations, BJP leader and revenue minister R. Ashoka quipped that Shivakumar seems to be under the false impression that by organising such press meets, he would win the elections.
Janata Dal (S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy wondered how any politics would be involved in this case?
"This rule is the same for every party. Shivakumar is a seasoned politician, should have understood this simple fact," he said while speaking to reporters here.
Speaking to mediapersons separately, Shivakumar asserted that there was no violation of any code, the ruling party has pressurised police to book a case against our party candidate.
The police on Thursday registered an FIR at Cottonpet police station in the city against Congress candidate from Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency for allegedly violating the code of conduct while filing his nomination for the by-polls.
"I have a record of even BJP leaders violating the same rule. If the police want to book a case against us, let them book but not by overlooking other party's violations," he said.
Revenue minister R. Ashoka remarked that Shivakuamr forgets easily, he should tell everyone how he behaved in the past when his party was in power.
"Aren't we aware of the simple fact that acting unnecessarily against any woman would boomerang against us in the elections?" he questioned and asserted that the ruling party was not the one for booking a case against Kusuma and making her a martyr.
He asserted that the ruling party will win with a margin of at least 45,000 votes. "We know how to win elections. We have a proper apparatus in place in RR Nagar," he said.
JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said that everyone was aware of how Shivakumar used to organise elections in the past. "He should introspect before making such allegations," he said.
The Election Commission of India has declared by-elections to two assembly seats - R.R. Nagar and Sira in Tumkuru - in Karnataka on November 3.
The police registered a case against Kusuma and Leader of the Opposition, Siddaramaiah's driver for allegedly violating the code of conduct by driving a car in a prohibited area of the returning officer's office premises.
The Cottonpet police booked this case based on a complaint filed by Assistant Sub-Inspector Nagaraja. N, who was deployed for security at the RR Nagar returning officer's office.
In his complaint, the ASI said he was instructed not to allow vehicles within 100 meters from the gate of the BBMP office as the code of conduct was in place, but Kusuma and other Congress leaders tried to enter the prohibited area by going through the barricades at the east gate of the office and not paying heed to the police personnel posted there.
Congress candidate Kusuma. H filed her nomination for the by-election from Rajarajeshwari Nagar on Wednesday.
Shivakumar and Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah had accompanied Kusuma for filing the nomination.